Locking clip

ABSTRACT

A hair clip has a first jaw and a second jaw, mutually pivotable about a hinge having a longitudinal axis, to pivot between an open position and a closed position. Each jaw respectively includes a jaw body provided with a series of teeth, and further includes resilient return means continuously returning both jaws into the open position, and releasable locking means for selectively locking the jaws in the closed position.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns articles for the hair, such as a hairgrip, in which a first jaw is articulated relative to a second jaw by anarticulation having a longitudinal axis to pivot between an openposition and a closed position, each jaw comprising a jaw body providedwith a series of teeth. Each jaw generally comprises an operating leverfor opening and closing the grip. A grip usually serves to hold part ofthe hair together.

Such hair grips are described for example in the documents U.S. Pat. No.5,873,377, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,591, US 2004/0149306 or else EP 1 023853.

A grip is generally held by return spring means that urge the two jawstoward a closed position. A coil spring is conventionally used as thereturn spring means.

The retention of the grip in position in the hair is therefore afunction of the return force exerted by the coil spring and a functionof the size of the coil spring relative to the grip.

The coil springs are therefore chosen accordingly, to confer on the gripsufficient retention by virtue of a high force urging the jaws towardthe closed position.

A first drawback is that the better the retention of the grip, thegreater is the force of the coil spring, and the more difficult itbecomes for the user to open the jaws of the grip using the operatinglevers.

Another disadvantage is that too great a force exerted by the grip isliable to damage the user's hair and makes it difficult to assemble thegrip because during assembly the coil spring is pretensioned before itis fitted.

Finally, the use of a coil spring with a high return force requiresoperating levers that, to facilitate opening the grip, increase in sizeas a function of the return force of the coil spring. A result of thisis the presence of operating levers whose dimensions can proveinconvenient, unattractive and bulky. Furthermore, the presence ofoperating levers integral with the jaws limits the shapes with which thejaws can be produced. As a matter of fact, the jaws and the levers of ahair grip are mostly produced in plastic by injection molding. There istherefore an imperative need for the jaws with their levers to bereadily removable from the mold, i.e. to have no undercut shapes liableto impede their extraction from the imprint of the mold by simplemovement in translation in a single extraction direction. Thisimperative is an impediment to a creator seeking to create an attractiveshape for an object whose function is not only to retain the hair butalso to embellish and ornament the hair.

The document US 2004/0040569 A1 describes a hair-slide comprising firstand second jaws articulated to each other about an axis perpendicular tothe lengthwise direction of the jaws to pivot between an open positionand a closed position. Releasable locking means disposed on the jaws atthe free ends opposite the articulation enable a user to lock thehair-slide in the closed position or to unlock it so it can return tothe open position.

In such hair-slides, the particular orientation of the articulation ofthe jaws, with an axis perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of thejaws, leads to wide separation of the jaws in the open position. Becauseof this, placing this hair-slide on the head of a user, especially onbeginning to close it, expressly and necessarily requires the use ofboth the user's hands and at least some dexterity. Now, one of theuser's hands is already being used to hold the hair in shape beforefitting the hair-slide. Fitting the hair-slide is therefore alreadydifficult for this reason.

Furthermore, after moving the jaws closer to each other, the user canhold the hair-slide closed with only one hand, but to lock the two jawsmust still effect a supplementary manipulation with his other hand(namely applying a torsion force to the locking members themselves).There is therefore a high risk of the user failing to dress his hair andfix it correctly as he wishes using this hair-slide, because it iscomplicated to manipulate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first problem addressed by the invention is that of designing a hairgrip providing both good retention in a user's hair and great ease ofuse. In particular, the invention aims to ensure good retention of thejaws of the grip in the closed position without having to overcome ahigh return spring means force when manipulating the grip to assumeeither its closed position or its open position and without havingspecifically to manipulate locking members to close the grip.

It must therefore be possible to manipulate the grip in order to closeit with only one hand.

Simultaneously, the invention aims to avoid excessive clamping forcesdamaging the user's hair and to facilitate assembly of the grip duringmanufacture.

The aim of another aspect of the invention is to design a new type ofhair grip with no operating levers.

Simultaneously, the invention further aims to enable the production ofcomplex attractive shapes at the same time as ensuring that thecomponents of the grip are readily extractable from the mold.

To achieve the above and other objects, the invention proposes a hairgrip comprising:

-   -   a first jaw and a second jaw each having a series of teeth and        articulated to each other by an articulation with a longitudinal        axis to pivot between an open position and a closed position,    -   return spring means urging the two jaws at all times toward the        open position,    -   releasable locking means for selectively locking the jaws in the        closed position and comprising unlocking members operable by the        user to unlock the jaws,

and wherein the unlocking means are conformed to lock automatically whenthe jaws pivot toward their closed position.

The return spring means urge the jaws toward their open position and itis the user's fingers that move the jaws to the closed position onplacing the grip in the hair until they lock in that position.

Such grips are particularly simple to manipulate to place them in thehair: the action of the user is a simple squeezing action, until thelocking means interengage, for which action the user can use only onehand, so that his other hand can be used to style and fix his hair as hewishes.

The squeezing action to pivot the jaws relative to each other into theirclosed position can be exerted directly on the jaw bodies if the jaws donot penetrate entirely into the hair. The jaws are pivoted toward theiropen position by the return spring means, after unlocking them. Thusthere is no need for operating levers for operating the jaws in suchgrips.

There is less risk of such grips damaging the user's hair throughexcessive compression of locks of hair, as there are no return springmeans exerting a high force in the closed position. Furthermore, suchgrips are effectively retained in the hair at all times.

In practice, the locking means can comprise clipping means thatautomatically hook onto each other when the jaws reach the closedposition.

In an advantageous embodiment, the locking means can be disposed on thefacing inside faces of the jaws, in an intermediate area of each insideface between the articulation axis and a distal end of the jaws. As aresult, the locking means are not visible when the grip is placed in thehair and do not interfere with the action of the distal part of the jawsin the hair.

Preferably, it can advantageously be provided that:

-   -   the locking means include at least one opening formed through        the jaw body of the first jaw,    -   the locking means include at least one elastic prong that        extends from the second jaw in the direction of the first jaw,        has a hook-shaped distal end, and can flex laterally and        elastically,    -   the elastic prong can be adapted selectively either to hold the        first jaw at a fixed distance from the second jaw in the closed        position by engagement of the hook-shaped distal end in said at        least one opening of the first jaw or to release the first jaw        by allowing the hook-shaped distal end to escape through the        opening on lateral flexing of the elastic prong on manipulating        it by pushing it laterally.

In a first embodiment of the invention it is advantageous if:

-   -   the jaws are elongate in the longitudinal direction and each has        two longitudinal ends,    -   the teeth of the series of teeth extend transversely from a        distal edge of the jaw bodies,    -   said at least one elastic prong extends transversely from the        distal edge of the jaw body of the second jaw toward the jaw        body of the first jaw, said elastic prong preferably being        situated at one of the longitudinal ends of the second jaw.

In a second embodiment of the invention it is advantageous if:

-   -   said at least one elastic prong is on the second jaw near the        articulation, preferably offset longitudinally relative to the        articulation in the direction of an end of the second jaw,    -   said at least one opening is in the first jaw, near the        articulation and opposite the elastic prong.    -   Said at least one elastic prong can preferably include a        plurality of detents near its distal end.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if:

-   -   the locking means include a retaining loop integral with the jaw        body of the first jaw,    -   the locking means include an elastic prong that extends from the        second jaw in the direction of the first jaw, that includes a        hook and an operating end accessible to the user for operating        it, and that can flex elastically and laterally,    -   the elastic prong is adapted selectively either to hold the        first jaw at a fixed distance from the second jaw in the closed        position by engagement of the hook in the retaining loop or to        release the first jaw by allowing the hook to escape from the        loop on lateral flexing of the elastic prong by manipulating the        operating end in the unlocking direction,    -   in the closed position, the operating end is offset        longitudinally relative to the articulation in the direction of        an end of the second jaw,    -   to unlock the grip, the user causes the hook to escape from the        loop on elastic lateral flexing of the prong by applying to the        operating end a force oriented substantially along the        longitudinal axis.

The elastic prong can advantageously include hooks with a number ofdetents and/or a number of successive loops can be situated at differentdistances from the first jaw.

It can advantageously be provided that:

-   -   the first jaw includes a first transverse protection elastic        blade situated beyond the locking means relative to the        articulation and extending from the first jaw in the direction        of the second jaw,    -   the second jaw includes a second transverse protection elastic        blade situated beyond the locking means relative to the        articulation and extending from the second jaw in the direction        of the first jaw,    -   the first and second protection elastic blades cooperate with        each other on closing the grip to hold the hair away from the        articulation, the return spring means and the locking means.

To facilitate unlocking further, it is advantageous if:

-   -   the locking means are locked automatically by a first relative        movement toward each other of the first jaw and the second jaw,    -   the locking means are unlocked by a second relative movement        toward each other of the first and second jaws.

Such hair grips prove easy to use. They can be fitted to a user's hairwith only one hand, and likewise removed, by a simple and ergonomicgesture.

In this case, it is advantageous if:

-   -   the locking means include at least one elastic prong that        extends from the second jaw in the direction of the first jaw,        includes a distal crossmember extending over a first length in        an offsetting direction, and can flex elastically,    -   the locking means include at least one hooking prong that        extends from the first jaw in the direction of the second jaw,        has a distal section with transverse notch provided on one        notched lateral face perpendicular to the offsetting direction,        and has a proximal section, the proximal section being offset by        a second length in the offsetting direction away from the distal        section and the elastic prong,    -   the second length is greater than or equal to the first length,    -   on the first relative movement toward each other of the first        and second jaws, the distal crossmember of the elastic prong is        pushed back by the notched lateral face and the elastic prong is        flexed elastically, after which continuation of the first        relative movement toward each other of the first and second jaws        enables engagement of the distal crossmember in the transverse        notch of the hooking prong because of the return spring action        of the elastic prong,    -   on the second relative movement toward each other of the first        and second jaws, the distal crossmember of the elastic prong        comes into corresponding relationship with the proximal section        of the hooking prong, which, by virtue of the return spring        action of the elastic prong, enables displacement of the distal        crossmember beyond the face of the hooking prong opposite the        notched lateral face, and which thereafter enables relative        movement away from each other of the first and second jaws        because of the action of the return spring means.

Such hair grips include compact locking means that are easy to produceat low cost.

The articulation can preferably include a hinge.

The return spring means can advantageously comprise a coil spring.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the return spring meanscan comprise at least one leaf spring, preferably of metal.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the articulation andthe return spring means can comprise at least one leaf spring,preferably of metal.

The retaining loop, the elastic prong, the articulation and the returnspring means can advantageously be produced from a single flat metalstrip cut and bent to shape.

The retaining loop, the elastic prong, the articulation, the returnspring means and the leaf springs can preferably be produced from asingle flat metal strip cut and bent to shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willemerge from the following description of particular embodiments, givenwith reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a grip of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grip from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a grip of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the grip from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a grip of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the grip from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a grip of a fourth embodiment of the inventionin the open position;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the grip from FIG. 7 in the closed position;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the grip from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a metal part intended to be shaped;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the part from FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 to 16 are side views of a grip of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the locking means of the grips fromFIGS. 12 to 16; and

FIG. 18 is a front view of a metal part intended to be shaped.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 9 and 12 to 16 represent five different embodiments of thepresent invention. In each of these figures, the hair grip comprises afirst jaw 1 and a second jaw 2 elongate in a longitudinal direction I-Iand articulated to each other by an articulation 3 having a longitudinalaxis I-I to pivot between an open position and a closed position. Thefirst jaw 1 and the second jaw 2 each comprise a respective jaw body 1 aor 2 a provided with a respective series of teeth 1 b or 2 b.

In the open position the jaws 1 and 2 are separated from each other,i.e. their series of teeth 1 b and 2 b are separated from each other. Inthe closed position, the jaws 1 and 2 are close to each other, i.e.their series of teeth 1 b and 2 b are close to each other to grip partof the user's hair between them. The teeth of the series of teeth 1 band 2 b preferably cross in the closed position.

Return spring means 4 urge the two jaws 1 and 2 toward the open positionat all times. The force of the return spring means 4 does not need to behigh. It must be just sufficient to counter the gripping force exertedby the user when holding the grip to move it towards the hair.Releasable locking means 5 automatically lock the jaws 1 and 2 in theclosed position on merely moving the jaws 1 and 2 toward each other,without necessitating any other intervention by the user.

In the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the lockingmeans 5 include at least one opening 6 formed through the jaw body 1 aof the first jaw 1. The locking means 5 also include at least oneelastic prong 7 extending from the second jaw 2 in the direction of thefirst jaw 1, with a hook-shaped distal end 7 a and adapted to flexlaterally and elastically. The elastic prong 7 is adapted selectively:(a) to retain the first jaw 1 at a fixed distance d from the second jaw2 in the closed position by engagement of the hook-shaped distal end 7 ain the opening 6 through the first jaw 1 or (b) to release the first jaw1 by enabling the hook-shaped distal end 7 a to escape through theopening 6 by virtue of lateral flexing of the elastic prong 7.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4, the hook-shaped distal end 7 a has aleading face 70 a that slides on the edge of the opening 6, causingslight lateral flexing of the elastic prong 7 when the distal end 7 aenters the opening 6. The distal end 7 a also includes a stop face 71 athat retains the first jaw 1 at a fixed distance d from the second jaw 2when, after penetrating a sufficient distance into the opening 6, theelastic prong 7 has again flexed slightly laterally in the oppositedirection to the first lateral flexing caused by the leading face 70 a.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the jaws 1 and 2 areelongate in the longitudinal direction I-I, each having two ends 1 c, 1d, 2 c and 2 d. The teeth of the series of teeth 1 b and 2 b extendtransversely from a distal edge 100 a and 200 a of the jaw bodies 1 aand 2 a. The free ends of the teeth of the series of teeth 1 b and 2 bform the distal edges of the jaws 1 and 2.

The grip includes two elastic prongs 7 extending transversely from thedistal edge 200 a of the jaw body 2 a toward the jaw body 1 a of thefirst jaw 1. The elastic prongs 7 are situated at the longitudinal ends2 c and 2 d, respectively, of the second jaw 2. The elastic prongs 7 canbe integral with the jaw body 2 a or attached to it.

Manipulation of the grip shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is simple. The returnspring means 4, which here are a coil spring 4 a with two projectingradial ends bearing on a respective jaw, urge the two jaws 1 and 2toward the open position at all times, in which position the series ofteeth 1 b and 2 b are separated from each other.

When the user wishes to place the grip on his head, he applies a slightsqueezing force to the jaws 1 and 2 in the orientation and directiondefined by the arrows 9 a and 9 b (FIG. 2). When merely moving the grip,the squeezing force can be low, just sufficient to retain the grip inthe user's hand. Then, when the grip is in position in the hair, theuser squeezes the jaws 1 and 2 with a greater force to overcome thereturn force exerted by the coil spring 4 a and thus to move the jaws 1and 2 toward each other until the hook-shaped distal ends 7 a of theelastic prongs 7 enter the openings 6 in the jaw body 1 a. The grip isthen in the closed position, as represented in FIG. 1, and is lockedautomatically without necessitating any supplementary manipulation bythe user. The clipping means 5 indeed consisting of the elastic prongs 7and the openings 6 automatically hook onto each other as soon as thegrip reaches its closed position. The hook-shaped distal ends 7 a of theelastic prongs 7 hold the first and second jaws 1 and 2 at a fixeddistance d against the coil spring 4 a.

When the user wishes to remove the grip from his hair, he can apply asqueezing force to each of the elastic prongs 7 in the direction definedby the arrows 10 a and 10 b, for example by means of his index fingerand thumb. The user thereby causes lateral flexing of the elastic prongs7, enabling the distal ends 7 a of the elastic prongs 7 to pass throughthe openings 6. Thus the user releases the first jaw 1 which is thenmoved away from the second jaw 2 by the return spring means 4.

It is therefore clear that the grip is easy to manipulate and easy tounlock by pressing with the two fingers in a fairly natural squeezingmovement, for example between the index finger and thumb of the samehand.

It is advantageous to provide an elastic prong 7 at each end 2 c and 2 dof the second jaw 2 in order to balance the grip along the whole of itslength. The grip will then not tend to twist because of the action ofthe return spring means 4.

When using a hair grip such as that represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, theelastic prongs 7 can enter the user's hair. The locking means 5 aretherefore not very visible and do not degrade the visual and attractiveappearance of the grip.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the invention. The jaws 1 and2 have the same general structure as in the first embodiment. Here thegrip includes a single elastic prong 7 with a hook-shaped distal end 7a. The elastic prong 7 is carried by the second jaw 2 near thearticulation 3. As seen more particularly in FIG. 4, the elastic prong 7is offset longitudinally relative to the articulation 3 in the directionof the end 2 c of the second jaw 2. The elastic prong 7 can be integralwith the jaw body 2 a or attached to it.

The first jaw 1 has an opening 6 through it near the articulation 3 andopposite the elastic prong 7.

This kind of grip is manipulated in a similar way to the grip shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

On placing the grip on a user's head, the user applies a force to thejaws 1 and 2 of the grip in the direction and the orientation defined bythe arrows 9 a and 9 b (FIG. 4) to close the jaws 1 and 2 onto the hair.During this closing movement of the jaws 1 and 2, the hook-shaped distalend 7 a of the elastic prong 7 enters the opening 6 through the firstjaw 1. As soon as the jaws 1 and 2 reach the closed position, theclipping means 5 consisting of the elastic prong 7 and the opening 6hook onto each other automatically and retain the first jaw 1 at a fixeddistance d from the second jaw 2 against the action of the return springmeans 4, which here comprise a coil spring 4 a. The grip thereforeremains in the closed position as shown in FIG. 3.

To remove the grip from their hair, the user applies a force in theorientation and in the direction defined by the arrow 10 c (FIG. 4). Theuser therefore causes the elastic prong 7 to flex laterally to enableits distal end 7 a to pass through the opening 6, enabling the first jaw1 to escape. The return spring means 4 then cause the two jaws 1 and 2to return to their open position as shown in FIG. 4.

This kind of grip is relatively simple to manipulate. The elastic prong7 is included in an interior space E between the jaws 1 and 2 of thegrip. The elastic prong 7 is therefore not very visible and does notdegrade the attractive appearance of the grip. The elastic prong 7 isalso placed near the articulation 3 to facilitate holding it and toprevent it tangling in the user's hair.

The elastic prong 7 is offset longitudinally relative to thearticulation 3 in the direction of the end 2 c of the second jaw 2 toenable the user to press with one finger on the elastic prong 7 in thedirection defined by the arrow 10 c to unlock the grip.

The grip is clearly easy to manipulate and easy to unlock by pressingwith two fingers in a relatively natural squeezing movement, for examplebetween the index finger and thumb of the same hand.

The elastic prong 7 is placed sufficiently close to the articulation 3not to induce any imbalance in the grip: the jaws 1 and 2 remainsubstantially parallel to each other, even if the locking means 5include only one elastic prong 7.

According to an improvement of the invention, it is possible to provideone or more detents 7 b on the elastic prongs 7 in addition to thehook-shaped distal end 7 a. In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4, theelastic prong 7 includes a detent 7 b near the distal end 7 a. The griptherefore has a number of closed positions that differ from each otherin terms of the distance d between the jaws 1 and 2 (FIGS. 1 and 3).This provides adaptable locking of the grip as a function of the amountof the user's hair it is to retain.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the invention. The jaws 1 and 2again have the same general structure as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the locking means 5 include an opening 60 formedthrough the jaw body 1 a of the first jaw 1 and a retaining loop 11integral with the jaw body 1 a of the first jaw 1. The locking means 5further include an elastic prong 7 extending from the second jaw 2 inthe direction of the first jaw 1 and including an operating end 7 c anda hook 12. When placing the grip in his hair, the user pivots the jaws 1and 2 relative to each other against return spring means 4 until thehook 12 automatically hooks onto the retaining loop 11 to retain thefirst jaw 1 at a fixed distance d from the second jaw 2 in the closedposition.

During the closing movement of the grip, the operating end 7 c of theelastic prong 7 passes through the opening 60 in the first jaw 1 andextends beyond the latter when the grip is in the closed position.

In the closed position, the operating end 7 c is therefore accessible tothe user and can be manipulated.

When the user wishes to remove the grip from his hair, he applies aforce in the orientation and in the direction defined by the arrow 10 dto the accessible operating end 7 c of the elastic prong 7. The usertherefore causes the elastic prong 7 to flex laterally, the effect ofwhich is to move the hook 12 away from the retaining loop 11. The jaws 1and 2 are then returned to their open position away from each other bythe return spring means 4 (FIG. 5).

The locking means 5 can be produced in metal in order to be moreresistant to wear and attached to the remainder of the grip.

The locking means 5 are contained in the interior space E between thefirst and second jaws 1 and 2 and are therefore not very visible inorder not to degrade the attractive appearance of the grip.

The locking means 5 are also easy to grip and to manipulate by simplyapplying pressure to the accessible operating end 7 c of the elasticprong 7.

The jaws 1 and 2 are held reliably and securely in the closed positionby the hook 12 and the retaining loop 11.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a fourth embodiment of the invention. The jaws 1 and 2have the same general structure as in the first embodiment.

In these figures, the locking means 5 include at least one retainingloop 11 integral with the jaw body 1 a of the first jaw 1 and at leastone elastic prong 7 extending from the second jaw 2 in the direction ofthe first jaw 1 and having an operating end 7 c and a hook 12.

When using this kind of grip, the user places it in the hair, moving thefirst and second jaws 1 and 2 toward each other by a squeezing forceonto the jaws 1 and 2 against the action of the return spring means 4until the hook 12 engages in the retaining loop 11 to retain the firstjaw 1 at a fixed distance d from the second jaw 2 in the closed position(FIG. 8).

As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment two elastic prongs 7 can beprovided each including a respective first hook 12 a and second hook 12b designed to be engaged in two opposite directions in a respectivefirst loop 11 a and second loop 11 b that are offset longitudinally fromeach other in order to increase the hold of the jaws 1 and 2 parallel toeach other.

In the closed position, the operating ends 7 c are accessible to theuser and can be manipulated.

To open the grip, the user applies a squeezing force onto the operatingends 7 c of the elastic prongs 7 in the longitudinal directions shown bythe arrows 10 f and 10 g. The hooks 12 a and 12 b then leave theretaining loops 11 a and 11 b, enabling the return spring means 4 tomove the jaws 1 and 2 away from each other.

The grip is clearly easy to operate and easily unlocked by pressing withtwo fingers in a relatively natural squeezing movement, for examplebetween the index finger and the thumb of the same hand.

In the third and fourth embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the hooks 12are shaped to enable automatic clipping on moving the jaws 1 and 2closer together. The hooks 12 therefore have a leading face 120 a thatslides on the edge of the loop 11 causing slight lateral flexing of theelastic prong 7 up to a certain point at which the hook is totallyengaged in the loop 11 and retains the second jaw 2 via a stop face 121a.

In the third and fourth embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, it ispossible to provide adaptable locking means 5 with a view to adaptingthe grip to suit the user's hair. To this end, the elastic prong 7 caninclude a hook 12 with a number of detents 13 a, 13 b and 14 a-14 dand/or a plurality of successive loops 20 a, 20 b, 110 a, 110 b, 111 aand 111 b situated at different distances from the first jaw.

This applies in particular to the grip shown in FIG. 5, in which theretaining loop 11 includes two recesses serving as two successiveretaining loops 20 a and 20 b situated at different distances from thefirst jaw 1. In FIG. 5, the hook 12 includes two detents 13 a and 13 b.In FIG. 9, the retaining loops 11 a and 11 b include two recessesthereby defining a number of successive loops 110 a, 110 b, 111 a and111 b situated at different distances from the first jaw 1. The firsthook 12 a and the second hook 12 b also include a number of detents 14a, 14 b, 14 c and 14 d.

In all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, it may be desirable forthe user's hair not to become entangled in the locking means 5. To thisend, there may be provided in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 9 a firsttransverse protection elastic blade 15 a situated beyond the lockingmeans 5 relative to the articulation 3 and extending from the first jaw1 in the direction of the second jaw 2 and a second transverseprotection elastic blade 15 b situated beyond the locking means 5relative to the articulation 3 and extending from the second jaw 2 inthe direction of the first jaw 1. The first and second protectionelastic blades 15 a and 15 b are close together and cooperate on closingthe grip to hold the hair away from the articulation 3, the returnspring means 4 and the locking means 5.

Although the protection elastic blades 15 a and 15 b are shown only inthe embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 9, they are entirely compatible with theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIGS. 12 to 17 show a fifth embodiment of the invention.

In these figures, the locking means 5 include an elastic prong 7 thatextends transversely from the second jaw 2 in the direction of the firstjaw 1 and includes a distal crossmember 20 extending a first length L1(FIG. 17) away from the elastic prong 7 both ways in an offsettingdirection II-II.

The locking means 5 further include two hooking prongs 21 a and 21 bthat extend from the first jaw 1 in the direction of the second jaw 2,have respective distal portions 210 a and 210 b with respectivetransverse notches 211 a and 211 b on the notched lateral faces 22 a and22 b perpendicular to the offsetting direction II-II, and have proximalsections 23 a and 23 b. The proximal sections 23 a and 23 b are offsetaway from the distal sections 210 a and 210 b and the elastic prong 7 bya second length L2 in the offsetting direction II-II. The second lengthL2 is greater than or equal to the first length L1.

When using the grip shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, the user effects a firstrelative movement of the first and second jaws 1 and 2 toward eachother. The distal crossmember 20 of the elastic prong 7 is then pushedback by the notched lateral faces 22 a and 22 b and the elastic prong 7is flexed elastically. Because of the action of the return spring meansof the elastic prong 7, continuation of the first relative movement inrotation of the first and second jaws 1 and 2 toward the closed positionthen enables automatic engagement of the distal crossmember 20 in thetransverse notches 211 a and 211 b of the hooking prongs 21 a and 21 b.The locking means 5 consisting of the elastic prong 7 and the hookingprongs 21 a and 21 b therefore hook onto each other automatically assoon as the grip reaches its closed position. The grip then remainslocked in the closed position as shown in FIG. 13.

Although the grip represented in FIGS. 12 to 17 has transverse notches211 a and 211 b with a single detent, providing a number of detents oneach of the hooking prongs 21 a and 21 b to enable modulation of theclamping of the jaws 1 and 2 of the grip to suit the user's hair can beenvisaged. This guarantees good adaptability of the grip to the user'shair and to the hairstyles that the user seeks to achieve.

When the user wishes to remove the grip from his hair, he effects asecond relative movement toward each other of the first and second jaws1 and 2, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 14 and 15. The distalcrossmember 20 of the elastic prong 7 then comes into correspondingrelationship with the proximal sections 23 a and 23 b of the hookingprongs 21 a and 21 b (FIG. 14). Because of the return spring action ofthe elastic prong 7, the distal crossmember 20 crosses the space betweenthe proximal sections 23 a and 23 b and moves beyond the faces 22 a′ and22 b′ of the hooking prongs 21 a and 21 b opposite the notched lateralfaces 22 a and 22 b. Then, the action of the return spring means 4enables relative movement of the first and second jaws 1 and 2 away fromeach other by rotating about the axis I-I to return to the open positionof the grip shown in FIG. 12.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, the hooking prongs 21 aand 21 b each include a boss 27 a and 27 b. These bosses tell the userwhen to halt the first relative movement toward each other of the firstand second jaws 1 and 2. After a click caused by interengagement of thedistal crossmember 20 in the transverse notches 211 a and 211 b, theuser will feel some resistance to continuation of the first movementtoward each other because of the bosses 27 a and 27 b.

The bosses 27 a and 27 b also push the elastic prong 7 back elasticallyon the second relative movement toward each other of the first andsecond jaws 1 and 2 before the distal crossmember 20 of the elasticprong 7 comes into corresponding relationship with the proximal sections23 a and 23 b. The elastic return of the elastic prong 7 beyond thefaces 22 a′ and 22 b′ of the hooking prongs 21 a and 21 b will be thatmuch easier, faster and more secure because the elastic prong 7 willhave been pushed back a long way before this by the bosses 27 a and 27b. The bosses 27 a and 27 b therefore increase the reliability and theease of operation of the hair grip of the fifth embodiment of theinvention.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 17, the second jaw 2 can include aprotection elastic blade 24 situated beyond the locking means 5 relativeto the articulation 3 and extending from the second jaw 2 in thedirection of the opposite jaw 1, as seen best in FIG. 16. The protectionelastic blade 24 holds the user's hair away from the articulation 3, thereturn spring means 4 and the locking means 5 when closing the grip. Theprotection elastic blade 24 can instead be on the first jaw.

In the particular embodiment represented in FIG. 16, the protectionelastic blade 24 has a curved distal end 24 a directed away from thearticulation 3. On closing the grip, the distal end 24 a then slides onthe internal face 101 of the jaw 1 to lock the locking means 5. When thedistal end 24 a slides on the internal face 101 of the jaw 1, theprotection elastic blade 24 is pushed back elastically by the internalface 101 of the jaw 1, away from the articulation 3, the return springmeans 4 and the locking means 5, thereby pushing the user's hair awayfrom them.

Note that in the various embodiments the locking means 5 can be easilyadapted to any grip using an articulation 3 that can include a hinge 3 aas in the first, second and third embodiments (FIGS. 1 to 6) or a leafspring 16 as in the fourth and fifth embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 9and 12 to 17. In the first, second and third embodiments, the returnspring means 4 comprise a coil spring 4 a whereas in the fourth andfifth embodiments the return spring means 4 comprise the leaf spring 16.The leaf spring 16 is preferably made of metal with dimensions adaptedto confer good stiffness on the articulation 3 and to produce a forceurging the jaws 1 and 2 apart that is sufficient but not excessive.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the leaf spring 16 serves both asthe articulation 3 and as the return spring means 4, which facilitatesassembly of the grip by reducing the number of components. There is alsono longer any coil spring to be fitted in a prestressed state.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show one embodiment of the locking means 5 of the fourthembodiment from FIGS. 7 to 9. The loops 11 a and 11 b, the elasticprongs 7, the articulation 3, the return spring means 4 and the leafsprings 15 a and 15 b can be produced from a single flat metal strip 17that is simply cut and bent to shape along the dashed lines (FIG. 10).The flatness of the metal strip 17 can be seen better in FIG. 11. Theloops 11 a and 11 b are produced by punching the material of the metalstrip 17. The leaf springs 15 a and 15 b cooperate together through theparticular shape of the distal end 150 a of the first leaf spring 15 aand the opening 150 b in the second leaf spring 15 b. When the metalstrip 17 is being shaped, the distal end 150 a is engaged in the opening150 b with a slight twist applied to the leaf spring 15 a. The distalend 150 a will then be retained by the opening 150 b as shown in FIGS. 5to 8.

Once shaped, the cut metal strip 17 is glued, screwed or crimped to thefirst and second jaws 1 and 2 of the grip by means of the openings 18 a,18 b and 18 c. The metal strip 17 is easy and economical to produce. Thegrip of the fourth embodiment of the invention is therefore produced atlow cost.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of the locking means 5 of the fifthembodiment of FIGS. 12 to 17. It is possible to produce the hookingprongs 21 a and 21 b, the elastic prong 7, the articulation 3, thereturn spring means 4, and where applicable the protection elastic blade24 from a single cut flat metal strip 25 that is simply shaped bybending it along the dashed lines. Once shaped, the cut metal strip 25is glued, screwed or crimped to the first and second jaws 1 and 2 of theclamp by means of the openings 26 a to 26 d. The metal strip 25 is easyand economical to produce. The grip of the fifth embodiment of theinvention is therefore produced at very low cost.

Although the grip shown in FIGS. 12 to 17 includes locking means withtwo hooking prongs 21 a and 21 b, it is possible to provide only onehooking prong. Using two hooking prongs 21 a and 21 b situated one oneach side of the articulation 3 in the longitudinal direction I-I holdsthe jaws 1 and 2 closely parallel to each other in the closed positionof the grip.

As an alternative to gluing, screwing or crimping a metal strip 17 or 25to the first and second jaws 1 and 2 of the grip, it is possible to moldthe first and second jaws 1 and 2 over a metal strip 17 or 25 once cutand bent to shape. Although overmolding the jaws 1 and 2 is shown onlyin FIG. 16, with a metal strip of the same type as the metal strip 25,overmolding can also be used with a metal strip of same type as themetal strip 17 to produce the fourth embodiment of the invention (FIGS.7 to 9).

Molding the jaws 1 and 2 over a metal strip 17 or 25 means that thegrips of the fourth and fifth embodiments of the invention can beproduced in a single injection molding operation, without having to fixthe jaws 1 and 2 to the metal strip 17 or 25 during a subsequentadditional operation.

This considerably reduces the production cost of the hair grips of thefourth and fifth embodiments of the invention, the gluing, screwing orcrimping operations necessitating further work that can prove costlybecause of the necessary labor.

The metal strips 17 and 25 can be produced from a steel such as XC45 orXC75 steel or spring steel.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments explicitlydescribed and includes variants and generalizations thereof containedwithin the scope of the following claims.

1. Hair grip comprising: a first jaw (1) and a second jaw (2) eachhaving a series of teeth (1 b, 2 b) and articulated to each other by anarticulation with a longitudinal axis (I-I) to pivot between an openposition and a closed position, return spring means (4) urging the twojaws (1, 2) at all times toward the open position, releasable lockingmeans (5) for selectively locking the jaws (1, 2) in the closed positionand comprising unlocking members operable by the user to unlock the jaws(1, 2), wherein the locking means (5) are conformed to lockautomatically when the jaws (1, 2) pivot toward their closed position.2. Hair grip according to claim 1, wherein the locking means (5)comprise clipping means (6, 7: 11, 7: 21 a, 21 b, 7) that hook onto eachother automatically as soon as the jaws (1, 2) reach the closedposition.
 3. Hair grip according to claim 1, wherein the locking means(5) are disposed on the facing interior faces of the jaws (1, 2) in anintermediate area of each interior face between the articulation axis(I-I) and a distal end of the jaws (1, 2).
 4. Hair grip according toclaim 1, wherein: the locking means (5) include at least one opening (6)formed through the jaw body (1 a) of the first jaw (1), the lockingmeans (5) include at least one elastic prong (7) that extends from thesecond jaw (2) in the direction of the first jaw (1), has a hook-shapeddistal end (7 a), and can flex laterally and elastically, the elasticprong (7) is adapted selectively either (a) to hold the first jaw (1) ata fixed distance (d) from the second jaw (2) in the closed position byengagement of the hook-shape distal end (7 a) in said at least oneopening (6) of the first jaw (1) or (b) to release the first jaw (1) byallowing the hook-shaped distal end (7 a) to escape through the opening(6) on lateral flexing of the elastic prong (7) on manipulating it bypushing it laterally (10 a, 10 b; 10 c).
 5. Hair grip according to claim4, wherein: the jaws (1, 2) are elongate in the longitudinal direction(I-I) and each has two longitudinal ends (1 c, 1 d, 2 c, 2 d), the teethof the series of teeth (1 b, 2 b) extend transversely from a distal edge(100 a, 200 a) of the jaw bodies (1 a, 2 a), said at least one elasticprong (7) extends transversely from the distal edge (200 a) of the jawbody (2 a) of the second jaw (2) toward the jaw body (1 a) of the firstjaw (1), said elastic prong (7) preferably being situated at one of thelongitudinal ends (2 c, 2 d) of the second jaw (2).
 6. Hair gripaccording to claim 4, wherein: said at least one elastic prong (7) is onthe second jaw (2) near the articulation (3), preferably offsetlongitudinally relative to the articulation (3) in the direction of anend (2 c, 2 d) of the second jaw (2), said at least one opening (6) isin the first jaw (1), near the articulation (3) and opposite the elasticprong (7).
 7. Hair grip according to claim 4, wherein said at least oneelastic prong (7) includes a plurality of detents (7 b) near its distalend (7 a).
 8. Hair grip according to claim 1, wherein: the locking means(5) include a retaining loop (11) integral with the jaw body (1 a) ofthe first jaw (1), the locking means (5) include an elastic prong (7)that extends from the second jaw (2) in the direction of the first jaw(1), includes a hook (12) and an operating end (7 c) accessible to theuser for operating it, and can flex elastically and laterally, theelastic prong (7) is adapted selectively either (a) to hold the firstjaw (1) at a fixed distance (d) from the second jaw (2) in the closedposition by engagement of the hook (12) in the retaining loop (11) or(b) to release the first jaw (1) by allowing the hook (12) to escapefrom the loop (11) on lateral flexing of the elastic prong (7) bymanipulating the operating end (7 c) in the unlocking direction, in theclosed position, the operating end (7 c) is offset longitudinallyrelative to the articulation (3) in the direction of an end (2 c, 2 d)of the second jaw (2), to unlock the grip, the user causes the hook (12)to escape from the loop (11) on elastic lateral flexing of the prong (7)by applying to the operating end (7 c) a force oriented substantiallyalong the longitudinal axis (I-I).
 9. Hair grip according to claim 8,wherein the elastic prong (7) includes hooks (12) with a plurality ofdetents (13 a, 13 b, 14 a-14 d) and/or a plurality of successive loops(20 a, 20 b, 110 a, 110 b, 111 a, 111 b) are situated at differentdistances from the first jaw.
 10. Hair grip according to claim 1,wherein: the first jaw (1) includes a first transverse protectionelastic blade (15 a) situated beyond the locking means (5) relative tothe articulation (3) and extending from the first jaw (1) in thedirection of the second jaw (2), the second jaw (2) includes a secondtransverse protection elastic blade (15 b) situated beyond the lockingmeans (5) relative to the articulation (3) and extending from the secondjaw (2) in the direction of the first jaw (1), the first protectionelastic blade (15 a) and the second protection elastic blade (15 b)cooperate with each other on closing the grip to hold the hair away fromthe articulation (3), the return spring means (4) and the locking means(5).
 11. Hair grip according to claim 1, wherein: the locking means (5)are locked automatically by a first relative movement toward each otherof the first jaw (1) and the second jaw (2), the locking means (5) areunlocked by a second relative movement toward each other of the firstjaw (1) and the second jaw (2).
 12. Hair grip according to claim 11,wherein: the locking means (5) include at least one elastic prong (7)that extends from the second jaw (2) in the direction of the first jaw(1), includes a distal crossmember (20) extending over a first length(L1) in an offsetting direction (II-II), and can flex elastically, thelocking means (5) include at least one hooking prong (21 a, 21 b) thatextends from the first jaw (1) in the direction of the second jaw (2),has a distal section (210 a, 210 b) with transverse notch (211 a, 211 b)provided on one notched lateral face (22 a, 22 b) perpendicular to theoffsetting direction (II-II), and has a proximal section (23 a, 23 b),the proximal section (23 a, 23 b) being offset by a second length (L2)in the offsetting direction (II-II) away from the distal section (210 a,210 b) and the elastic prong (7), the second length (L2) is greater thanor equal to the first length (L1), on the first relative movement towardeach other of the first jaw (1) and the second jaw (2), the distalcrossmember (20) of the elastic prong (7) is pushed back by the notchedlateral face (22 a, 22 b) and the elastic prong (7) is flexedelastically, after which continuation of the first relative movementtoward each other of the first jaw (1) and the second jaw (2) enablesengagement of the distal crossmember (20) in the transverse notch (211a, 211 b) of the hooking prong (21 a, 21 b) because of the return springaction of the elastic prong (7), on the second relative movement towardeach other of the first jaw (1) and the second jaw (2), the distalcrossmember (20) of the elastic prong (7) comes into correspondingrelationship with the proximal section (23 a, 23 b) of the hooking prong(21 a, 21 b), which, by virtue of the return spring action of theelastic prong (7), enables displacement of the distal crossmember (20)beyond the face (22 a′, 22 b′) of the hooking prong (21 a, 21 b)opposite the notched lateral face (22 a, 22 b), and which thereafterenables relative movement away from each other of the first jaw (1) andthe second jaw (2) because of the action of the return spring means (4).13. Hair grip according to claim 11, wherein: the first jaw (1) or thesecond jaw (2) includes a protection elastic blade (24) that is situatedbeyond the locking means (5) relative to the articulation (3) andextends from the first jaw (1) or the second jaw (2) in the direction ofthe opposite jaw (2, 1), the protection elastic blade (24) holds thehair away from the articulation (3), the return spring means (4) and thelocking means (5) on closing the grip.
 14. Hair grip according to claim1, wherein the articulation (3) includes a hinge (3 a).
 15. Hair gripaccording to claim 1, wherein the return spring means (4) comprise acoil spring (4 a).
 16. Hair grip according to claim 14, wherein thereturn spring means (4) comprise at least one leaf spring (16),preferably of metal.
 17. Hair grip according to claim 1, wherein thearticulation (3) and the return spring means (4) comprise at least oneleaf spring (16), preferably of metal.
 18. Hair grip according to claim9, wherein the retaining loop (11, 11 a, 11 b), the elastic prong (7),the articulation (3) and the return spring means (4) are produced from asingle flat metal strip (17) cut and bent to shape.
 19. Hair gripaccording to claim 10, wherein the retaining loop (11, 11 a, 11 b), theelastic prong (7), the articulation (3), the return spring means (4) andthe leaf springs (15 a, 15 b, 16) are produced from a single flat metalstrip (17) cut and bent to shape.
 20. Hair grip according to claim 12,wherein the hooking prongs (21 a, 21 b), the elastic prong (7), thearticulation (3) and the return spring means (4) are produced from asingle flat metal strip (25) cut and bent to shape.
 21. Hair gripaccording to claim 13, wherein the hooking prongs (21 a, 21 b), theelastic prong (7), the articulation (3), the return spring means (4) andthe protection elastic blade (24) are produced from a single flat metalstrip (25) cut and bent to shape.
 22. Hair grip according to claim 18,wherein the first jaw (1) and the second jaw (2) are molded over theflat metal strip (17, 25) when cut and bent to shape.